Experience the best of
Kyoto with Withlocals

"We joined Ted for the highlights and hidden gems of Kyoto tour and he was fantastic - he sent us visitation information before we arrived, he met us right on time, and was knowledgeable, funny, and friendly. The pace was perfect for our three hour walking tour and we hope to visit again, and he took us to a bunch of non-touristy spots including some of his favorites. We will definitely message Ted the next time we come; don’t hesitate to book him!"

"Naoki has made our first time in Japan as he made it a truly rich and memorable experience! We booked 2 days with Naoki - one in Kyoto and another in Nara. He curated a great itinerary that connected history, culture, nature and food across both cities and was inclusive to my sister who is disabled. We particularly enjoyed seeing the quieter sides of busy tourist sites, and visiting Uji, which we hadn't thought of doing until Naoki had made the suggestion.  His communication was fantastic when organising the tour, even letting us know what the weather would be like on the day! During the tour, he was flexible and adjusted the tour to our pace without it feeling cut short. Even on our days without him, he provided us with amazing recommendations for food, shows and shrines to visit.  Please book with Naoki if you want a guide with great local knowledge and who will go above and beyond! "

"We absolutely loved our bike tour with Tiro. He was helpful, shared lots of interesting information, and made the whole experience really fun. We did the bike tour our first day in Kyoto and it was a great way to get our bearings and learn more about the history. Tiro took us to some really cool places that were also quiet and felt very unique. Our group of seven people (ages 13-45) all agreed it was one of our very favorite experiences from our entire Japan trip. Thank you! "

"Eiji was a wonderful tour guide, he is Japanese and from Kyoto. The real deal! We enjoyed our tour a lot and appreciated the secrets and Tipps about Kyoto he shared with us. We especially liked that he took pictures for us regularly and also showed us how to make a wish praying at the temple."

"We were a group of 4 friends and our day with Simone was our first day in Kyoto. Booking with him was one of the best decision we’ve made the entire trip as not only was he one of the only Italian guides in Japan but he was also incredibly helpful, fun and knowledgeable. He contacted us as soon as we booked to make sure our tour was crafted to perfection to our tastes and made sure to include even the smallest thing we were eager to see. In tue end it felt like we spent a day with a long time friend. I’ll recommend him to anyone who asks me! Thanks again to Simone! "

"Our family greatly enjoyed our tour with Naoki. He brought so much history and context to all the sites we visited, which added so much richness and depth to our experience. In addition, he is very kind, adaptable, and a lot of fun to spend a day with! We highly recommend booking a tour with him!"

"We had a fantastic nighttime tour of the Gion district in Kyoto with our guide, Naoki. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating insights about Shinto shrines, demonstrating how to pray there, which deepened our understanding of Japanese spirituality. Naoki also enlightened us about the lives of Geishas, discussing the evolution of this traditional art form. He led us to beautiful photo spots and provided excellent restaurant recommendations, enhancing our experience even further. Overall, Naoki's enthusiasm and expertise made this tour unforgettable. I highly recommend him for anyone wanting to explore Kyoto's rich culture! Kim & Dario"

"My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our bike tour with Sebatian. He knows many great bike paths including the Philosophers path and was very patient with us as we navigated city streets. We learned a great deal about the city, history of temples and shrines and the importance of water. Highly recommend Sebatian’s bike tour. "

"Yoshihiro "Ted" is a great guide. Informative, friendly, intuitive with a depth of knowledge that makes the tour truly engaging Having taken many tours and experienced private guides, he ranks at the top. Book with him if you can."

"My husband and I took a tour in the Gion district of Kyoto with Ted. We both really enjoyed the tour, in particular Ted’s attention to choosing less crowded streets to include. His knowledge is excellent and we learnt a lot about the origins of Kabuki theatre and Geisha culture as well as how challenging the Geisha careers are to succeed in. I would definitely recommend Ted to other visitors to Kyoto who are interested in this tour. "